Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (2024)

Home Recipes Courses Salads Egg Salad

by Lisa Bryan

154 Comments

Updated Dec 29, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

Jump to RecipeJump to Video

Egg salad! It’s the classic egg salad recipe that can be eaten plain or turned into a delicious sandwich or wrap. All you need are hard-boiled eggs and a few other simple ingredients for this quick and easy recipe.

Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (2)

Before I dive into this recipe I have to be honest with you. Until recently, I was not a fan of most egg salad recipes. I found them to be far too mushy with too much mayonnaise. But good news – my version is different! It has texture and it’s chunky so you can see all the ingredients. There’s no mushiness around these parts! And of course, my version tastes amazing (if I do say so myself).

This classic egg salad recipe is what you’ve likely come across at parties, picnics, and holidays (like Easter). Or what you’ve purchased at the deli counter or enjoyed for a healthy lunch layered in a sandwich. It’s a true delight for a light and fresh meal.

Once you’ve mastered this classic recipe, make sure to give my curried egg salad and avocado egg salad a try for tasty variations.

Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (3)

Egg Salad Ingredients

I’m sticking to simple ingredients in this recipe with nothing funky to surprise you. But I do add more fresh herbs than other recipes, because fresh herbs make everything taste better. Here’s what’s in it:

  • Hard Boiled Eggs: The star ingredient of course. Just follow my tutorial for easy to peel hard boiled eggs.
  • Mayonnaise: I’m using my quick homemade mayonnaise, but any store-bought version works.
  • Dijon Mustard: I always opt for Dijon mustard over yellow mustard. It has a more robust, and zingy flavor. Yellow mustard falls a little flat with a muted flavor profile.
  • Red Onion: I love red onion for a pop of red color and crunchy bite. But you could use thinly sliced green onion as well.
  • Lemon Juice: Just a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice keeps the salad fresh.
  • Fresh Parsley and Chives: These herbs pair well with the eggs and mustard. And of course add a pop of green!

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

Making Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

Given that this recipe is all about hard-boiled eggs, you’ve got to make sure you use perfectly hard-boiled eggs. You don’t want the eggs too hard and rubbery, too soft and not mixable, or overly cooked and green around the yolk.

I’ve shared with you how to make perfect boiled eggs previously (step-by-step), so make sure to check out that post and video. I use 12-minute hard-boiled eggs in this recipe, but anything between 12 to 14-minutes is fine.

How to Make Egg Salad

Cool hard-boiled eggs. Make sure you hard boil your eggs ahead of time (or the night before) and allow time for them to cool. Once the eggs are boiled and cooled you’re good to mix the salad together.

Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (4)

Mix everything together. Slice your eggs into chunks (but don’t slice them too small) and add them to a mixing bowl along with the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, red onion, lemon juice, parsley, and chives. Give it all a stir until it’s well combined. And that’s it! Super easy.

Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (5)

Ways to Enjoy Egg Salad

  • Straight from the bowl. I’ll often eat this straight out of the bowl with a fork because it’s that good!
  • Top it on bread. You can enjoy egg salad as an open faced sandwich, on either gluten-free toast or my falafel flatbread, with a sprinkle of microgreens on top.
  • Wrap it up. Layer slices of cucumber, bell pepper, and other veggies inside tortillas, butter leaf lettuce leaves, or collard greens. Then wrap it up!
Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (6)

Storage Tips

Egg salad will stay good in a sealed container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Just make sure that you don’t leave it out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Otherwise, it may start to go bad.

Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (7)

Easy Egg Salad Recipe Video

While this recipe is easy to whip up, it always helps to watch a quick tutorial video. Give it a watch below!

More Easy Egg Recipes

Eggs are truly one of the most versatile ingredients. Here’s a few fun and tasty egg recipes you’ll love!

  • Deviled Eggs
  • Poached Eggs
  • Ultimate Breakfast Casserole
  • Cobb Salad (or Turkey Cobb Salad)
  • Baked Eggs in Avocado

If you make this egg salad, let me know how it turned out! I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.

Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (8)

Best Egg Salad

5 from 82 votes

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Total: 25 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Lisa Bryan

PrintPinReviewSave

Description

A classic egg salad recipe that's easy to make and tastes amazing. Perfect hard-boiled eggs and fresh ingredients make it the best egg salad recipe. Watch the video above to see how quickly it comes together!

Video

Ingredients

  • 6 eggs, room temperature
  • ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons parsley, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons chives, finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Bring a pot of water to a boil. Then turn the heat to low so there’s no bubbles. Use a skimmer to slowly and gently place the eggs in the pot. Turn the heat back to high and boil the eggs for 12 minutes.

    Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (9)

  • Transfer the eggs to an ice water bath to stop the cooking process and cool completely (at least 15 minutes).

    Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (10)

  • Peel the hard-boiled eggs, and slice them up to your preferred level of chunkiness. Add the chopped eggs to a mixing bowl along with the red onion, chives, parsley, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir all of the ingredients together, until well combined.

    Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (11)

  • Enjoy the egg salad straight from the bowl, or in a sandwich or wrap.

    Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (12)

Lisa’s Tips

  • The eggs may crack if you introduce cold eggs straight to the boiling hot water. So I leave my eggs out prior to boiling, or run them under lukewarm water for a few seconds, as well as turn off the boil right before placing the eggs in the pot.
  • I also use a skimmer to introduce the eggs to boiling water so they don’t slam into the bottom of the pan and crack.

Nutrition

Calories: 197kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 251mg | Sodium: 226mg | Potassium: 116mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 580IU | Vitamin C: 4.6mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1.3mg

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Egg Salad, Egg Salad Recipe, How to Make Egg Salad

©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

Recipe originally posted April 2019, but updated to include new information.

You May Also Like

Classic Potato Salad

Caesar Salad

Simple Kale Salad

Lentil Salad

About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

Read More About Me

Best Egg Salad Recipe | Downshiftology (2024)

FAQs

Why does my egg salad taste bland? ›

Stir through and adjust by adding more mayonnaise if you like your egg salad creamier. Why does my egg salad taste bland? The simple reason may be that it's not seasoned enough. Add a little more salt and pepper to taste.

How to make egg salad that isn t watery? ›

Use more mayonnaise: Adding extra mayonnaise to your egg salad can help make it thicker and creamier. Start by adding a small amount and gradually increase until you reach your desired consistency.

How do you keep your egg salad from getting runny? ›

Prevent Watery Egg Salad By Understanding Your Ingredients

That's why the simple swap of green onions or chives for onions is a better way to cut down on the water that can be drawn out without losing flavor. And while chopped celery is popular in egg salad, it is loaded with water -- 95% water to be exact.

Do you chop or mash eggs for egg salad? ›

Recipe developer and cookbook author Sheri Castle suggests that "for a salad with hearty texture that won't turn gummy or pasty, use your hands to crumble the eggs instead of chopping the whites and mashing the yolks with a fork." You will, of course, want to wait until the boiled eggs are cool enough to handle, but ...

How to make more flavorful eggs? ›

You can also create your own blend of seasonings by combining crushed red pepper, paprika, and chives. Hard-boiled: Sprinkling your hard-boiled eggs with some good old salt and pepper is a classic way to enjoy this egg dish. Or, liven up your hard-boiled eggs with the flavors of garlic, chili powder, or smoked paprika.

Why do I get an upset stomach after eating egg salad? ›

Eggs are a rich source of nutrients, making them a popular meal choice and ingredient. However, some people may experience nausea after eating eggs. If you feel nauseous after eating eggs, you may have an intolerance or allergy to egg yolks, egg whites, or both. Some people may experience nausea after eating eggs.

Why does my egg salad taste bad? ›

If your egg salad looks good but has a sour or bitter taste, it's best to throw it away. In some cases, you might notice small bubbles or fizzing when stirring the salad. These are telltale signs of microbial growth. Refrain from tasting the salad, and discard it immediately.

Why is my egg salad runny the next day? ›

Why did my egg salad get watery? - Quora. If there's nothing added but egg, mayo, and mustard, then the most likely culprit is condensation while in the refrigerator. Or the mayo you used separated. To prevent that, don't add the mayo until right before you serve it.

How do you fix runny egg mayo? ›

On the contrary, if your mayonnaise is too runny or doesn't set because you've added cold ingredients, simply add another egg yolk, strictly at room temperature.

How long should you keep egg salad in the refrigerator? ›

Egg salad will keep for up to 4 days in the fridge. Of course, this is merely the foundation for a great egg salad. Change up the ingredients and seasonings, anything from paprika to cumin to celery salt, and there's no end to the ways that you can enjoy it.

Why did my egg salad turn to soup? ›

One of the biggest issues with egg salad is that it can get runny and ultimately make your sandwich a soggy mess. According to The Oregonian, this sog factor is typically caused by overcooked eggs.

How long to boil eggs? ›

A soft boiled egg is boiled for a shorter amount of time, typically 4-6 minutes, so that the yolk remains runny while the white is only partially set. A hard boiled egg is boiled for a longer amount of time, typically 10-12 minutes, so that both the yolk and white are fully cooked and solid.

What is the best tool for making egg salad? ›

I've found the best tool for mashing up eggs for egg salad is a grid-style potato masher. Those square holes make the perfect sized bits of egg white.

Are you supposed to eat egg salad cold? ›

📋 Storage & Food Safety Notes

Egg salad should be served cold, and should not sit out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. If you're serving it somewhere where it needs to be out of the fridge, make sure you are at least serving it over an ice bath or bowl of ice to keep it cool.

Is egg salad better the next day? ›

Yes, egg salad can taste better the next day as the flavors have had time to meld together. However, it's best to eat it within 3 to 4 days as the ingredients are fresh. This healthy, mayo-free egg salad is more than just a simple dish; it's a versatile, protein-packed meal that can be tailored to your tastes.

How do you make eggs not taste bland? ›

11 Delicious Add-Ins To Try For More Flavorful Scrambled Eggs
  1. Creamy Dollops. Add a dollop of cream cheese, sour cream, mascarpone, or cottage cheese to your scrambled eggs for a richer, creamier breakfast. ...
  2. Salty Sauces. ...
  3. Milk & Cream. ...
  4. Mayo. ...
  5. Hot Sauce. ...
  6. Volumising Ingredients. ...
  7. Bouillon Granules. ...
  8. Baking Spices.

How do you make salad less bland? ›

Use LOTS of herbs and spices

To avoid boring, bland salads -- and make your meal actually flavourful -- you need to add herbs and spices. Seriously, don't be afraid when adding flavour.

How can you tell if egg salad is still good? ›

Look for any changes in color, flavor, smell, and texture. Fresh egg salad should be creamy and smooth with a mild scent. Spoiled egg salad will smell sour or have a sulfurous odor like rotten eggs. The texture may be watery or slimy, which may be a sign of bacterial growth.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Lakeisha Bayer VM

Last Updated:

Views: 6292

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Lakeisha Bayer VM

Birthday: 1997-10-17

Address: Suite 835 34136 Adrian Mountains, Floydton, UT 81036

Phone: +3571527672278

Job: Manufacturing Agent

Hobby: Skimboarding, Photography, Roller skating, Knife making, Paintball, Embroidery, Gunsmithing

Introduction: My name is Lakeisha Bayer VM, I am a brainy, kind, enchanting, healthy, lovely, clean, witty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.